?5 

1003 



;r^,-^s 



^,''^-' 




, \ 



.^3 






m 





SONGS or THE SPIRI'I 

"OUT or THE DEPTHS" 



G_ 



♦* The balm for every heart is found 

Amid the shado-ivs of Gethsemane ; 

And they* who Cotnfori most sometime have criedy 

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ! ' 



DROWEHT PUBLISHING CO. 

BEVERLY, MASS. 

1903 



75 \oO 3 



THt LiCRARY OF 
CCNGRESS, 

Tv\'0 Copies Received 

APR 10 1503 

Copyiignl tntry 



CLASS 



XXc. No. 



5- b ^ i n 

COPV 8. I 



Copyrighted, 190S 

By A. P. Adams, 

Beverly, Mass. 



Zo tbe flDemori2 

0weet anb preciou0, an& ^ct over- 
wbelming, un^peaftaWe, of 
m? wife ^ibie 

X08l 

ant) foun& again 

In (Bob 

i0 tbi0 booft bebicateb* 
jeaeter 

J903 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



A FOREWOED, 

BY THE AUTHOR OF THE VERSES. 

To the readers of these songs — Greeting. 

It has been a great joy to transfer into verse the 
thoughts herein contained, as they have come to us 
through the lips and writings of our Brother. As the 
little book goes forth on its sacred mission, may it carry 
conviction to many hearts that 

<^A11 things are of God.'^ 

By sorrow's pangs are born our songs, 
Our griefs are gifts we would not lose; 

To Father all the praise belongs : 
For '* God, — God, — God,— is the only Muse." 

0. 

Febmary 21, (n. d.) 1903. 



SONGS OF THE SPIKIT. 



THE EDITOR. 



" Out of the depths " of a great sorrow, protracted 
through days and weeks and months of anguish and 
horror, growing more and more intense to the end, has 
this book come. It goes forth upon its mission, hiding 
under its words of prose and verse the white heat pul- 
sations of a tortured life, struggling for continuance, 
but at last wearily giving up the unequal strife, and 
sinking into silence and dreamless sleep, almost under 
the knife, which with an abject impotency manifest 
from the first, had vainly sought to save. And one 
there was, almost continually by her side, who in the 
sufferer saw ''himself'' (Eph. 5 : 28, 29), not only " his 
own flesh," but soul and spirit too ; and so he suffered 
with her and for her day by day ; for twice a day the 
operation must proceed, and he must be there, for, " 0, 
beloved, I've only you and God on whom to hold." 
With nerves reined in and every muscle tense he waited 
by her side ; with smiling face and words of cheer he 
sought to sooth and comfort; with iron grip upon his 
own heart strings, he fain would give her hope and 
succor through all those cruel weeks. Crushed, over- 
whelmed, torn, carved, dismembered, yet calm without, 
he waited to see what God would do ; for through it all 
he looked to Him, and not to man ; and when at last the 



6 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

bitter end did come, to him was given to say, " This too 
is of God ; let him do what seemeth him good." Poor 
fellow, I do not like to dwell upon his pain ; let us for- 
get it all and start anew. And yet, — and yet, — he was 
not, is not poor but rich ; nor is he greatly to be pitied, 
but rather to be envied, for was not his the triumph 
after all? Through mighty love and all-sustaining 
strength of the Great All-Father, his was the blessed 
boon of peace in grief's tornado, and at last in quietness 
to confess "All is well, my God doth comfort me." 

In such a smithy, smoky and grim, on such an anvil, 
black and hard, was this beat out, which now goes forth 
to do its work, whatever that may be. Blood it has 
cost, in cold, stern truth, as well as deepest trope. 
" Songs of the Spirit," is it therefore called, because 
" the spirit is life " (Eom. 8 : 10) and " the blood is 
life " (Deut. 12 : 23). " Out of the depths " has it come 
forth ; *' In the floods of great waters " it has been pre- 
pared ; but these waters also have proved " the waters 
of life" ; and thus, as of yore, "the spirit, the water and 
the blood agree in one," (I John 5:8) — Life, the Life 
of God. Life songs are these, therefore, and words of 
life, O living reader (let whoso readeth understand), 
refreshing thy life and renewing it, as you shall read 
and ponder. One thing alone we pray (we who have 
been used of God to send this message forth), — that it 
may Comfort, even with the Comfort wherewith we our- 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 7 

selves are comforted of God. This, for our little book 
we crave, thou " God of all Comfort." 

The Garden City by the Sea, 
February 7, 1903. 



'^ Mamma.'' 



He was greatly blessed all through Addie's sickness 
in having loving hearts as well as skilful and faithful 
hands with whom he always felt perfectly safe to leave 
her. Addie was contented and happy with her atten- 
dants ; the good doctor, kind nurses, old Auntie and help- 
ful cousin George. But no one was so comforting to 
her as Mamma ; she was always a haven and a refuge ; 
she could always soothe and reassure her. In hours of 
nervousness and pain when Addie was full of worry and 
distress, night or day, any time, Mamma was within call, 
ready, with gentle touch and loving word, as well as 
skilful service, to quiet and encourage the sufferer. 
Addie was contented with Mamma, and he was blessed in 
Addie's satisfaction. Mamma's service was beyond price 
to both, for it was the service of love. It was also the 
service of good cheer and hope ; her presence in the sick 
room was as welcome as the sunshine ; as refreshing as 
the breezes that came from the sea over the cornfields. 



8 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Ah, my dear friend, thou hast come into my life for 
eternity. By thy loving service to the KiDg's daughter 
(Psa. 45) thou hast drawn nearer to the heart of the 
King; it shall be remembered of thee for good, for inas- 
much as thou didst it unto her, thou didst it unto Him, 



The Secret Place. 



Come, soul, into the secret place, 
The place of silence sanctified ; 

And there, beneath Almighty wings, 
In confidence abide. 

Leave every clam'ring fear behind, — 
No doubts need here an entrance seek ; 

But loose thy shoe and seal thy lips, 
And hear what God will speak. 

Blind unbelief will question why ; 

Faith, like the meek and lowly dove, 
Will to the Fathers bosom fly, 

And rest there in His love. 

Come, soul, into this holy place. 

Thy carnal thoughts henceforth resign ; 

For here the Father will reveal 
His mysteries divine ! 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



Wandcfingf Hands* 

Addie was always active ; her hands were ever busy. 
So, even in her sickness, she seemed unable to keep them 
still. As she lay there with her eyes closed, in a semi- 
stupor, how often did I watch her wandering hands ! 
smoothing down the coverlid, patting and arranging it ; 
<;lasped together as if in prayer, held motionless both of 
them in the air as though she was thinking with them ; 
then again moving about aimlessly, reaching, feeling, 
groping ; as this seemed to please her, being something 
to do, always so essential to her happiness, I would not 
interfere, but just sit by her bedside, watching the loved 
hands wander, " Oh so pathetically," with mine under- 
neath following them about so that when they fell, as 
they frequently did with weariness and exhaustion, they 
would always find a support ; and then as they touched 
mine the fingers would close with such a clinging pres- 
sure as though she was glad that I was there ; for she 
always knew me, and she knew that I was at her bed- 
side most of the time ; sometimes one hand would fall 
upon my shoulder or against my face, and then again 
they would close upon me wherever they touched, or 
fondly wander over my face for a few seconds and then 
off again, reaching, groping in the empty air. what a 
lesson there was to me in those wandering hands ! 



10 SONGS OF THE SPISIT. 

precious hands that had so often ministered to me, and 
many others, so willingly, so gladly ! Ah ! dear hands? 
how plain was thy language ! how thrilling thy silent 
eloquence ! 

I thought, too, of the many hands outstretched all over 
this earth, reaching for help, for comfort, for power, for 
sometJdng that should bring happiness and rest ; and, 
for the most part, reaching all in vain. No conscious 
support under them, — no loving power to catch them 
when they dropped, — but, falling, fainting, dying ; not 
knowing of a Creator, whose tender mercies are over all 
his works. Tell them, ye who do know. If thy hands 
have learned to grasp the All-up-holding Hand, be a 
god to others by holding thine under theirs, that when 
they are weary of the fruitless quest in worldly ways^ 
they may find a hand outstretched into which their's 
may fall, and so be gently urged upward to their home 
in God. 

All this, sister has beautifully put into verse. 



Wandering: Hands* 

Hands that were ever serving. 
Doing the " In-as-much," — 

Helping in ways unnumbered, 
Soothing with gentlest touch ; 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. JJ 

E'en ^mid the days of weakness, 

Quiet they could not be : 
Still the dear hands would wander, 

Oh, so pathetically ! 

Now they would smooth the cover, 

Then they would poise in air ; 
Often were reaching outward. 

Grasping what was not there. 
Sometimes awhile were folded 

As a wee one would pray ; 
Then they again would wander 

Through the long night or day. 

And, as I sat beside her 

Watching her silent quest, 
How my heart yearned to aid her, 

Longed so to give her rest. 
'Neath her's my hand would follow. 

That when her strength was gone 
Her hand might sink with comfort 

Into my stronger one. 

Sometimes a hand would linger 

Lovingly by my cheek, 
Sometimes would press mine closely, 

Oh, how those hands could speak ! 
Eloquent ? Words 'most fail me : 

Blessed the lessons learned, 



12 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

As I watched my beloved, — 
How my heart in me burned ! 

Often my thoughts would travel, 

Like her dear restless hands, 
Into this night of weeping, 

Into earth's darkened lands ; 
And I would see sin's captives 

Reaching for life and light, — 
Wandering hands so vainly 

Striving to find the right. 

Was there no power to aid them. 

Was there no love to enfold ? 
When their strength failed in seeking. 

Was there no hand to hold ? 
Yes— though they did not know it, 

Wounded and faint and sore. 
Still God's great love was 'round them 

His sick ones to restore. 

Ah, we may grope in darkness 

When He, our Light, is near : 
But soon the night will vanish, 

And all His ways be clear. 
So — we wait for the morning 

When we shall understand ; 
And all the weary wanderers 

Rest in the father's hand. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 13 

[Extract from the July Spirit of the Word, 1902.] 

Trust and W&iU 

This is the refrain that has been running through my 
mind for the past four or five weeks, — Trust and 
Wait, Trust and Wait, over and over again ; do not 
ask, do not expect, do not /tope that it may be so 
and so, but trust and wait, accepting whatever 
comes as the manifestation of the Father's love and 
the expression of his gracious will. Do not say, Father, 
I trust thee, I want thy will to be done, but Oh grant 
me this request, deliver me from this trial, save me from 
this impending calamity. But rather say. Give what 
thou pleaseth, 0, my Father ; withhold what thou pleas- 
eth ; do whatever seemeth thee good. I trust and wait. 

And so the refrain has gone on, singing itself in my 
heart, in the midst of distress and doubt and dread, still 
singing, like an angel at a closed gate, knowing that it 
will be opened in due time and in the Father's way, and 
whatever the experience I thereby enter upon it will be 
all good. No other issue is possible. 

The occasion of the above experience is the severe and 
unexpectedly protracted sickness of my wife. I write 
of it because I have learned some precious lessons from 
it that I believe will be helpful to others. You know, 
friends, that the message in the Spirit of the Word is 
from the heart to the heart. He that is able to receive 
it let him receive it. I write for the few, not the many. 



14 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Trust and Wait! 

I do not ask my Father to remove 
Tlie present grief, nor even to abate 

Th' impending blow : 
Whatever is must be His will ; and so 

I trust and wait ! 

I cannot even hope to have my wish ; 

What might have been I will not contemplate : 

God's ways are right ! 
Although about me is the darkest night, 
I trust and wait ! 

I may not understand the way He leads ; 
Strength to endure has never come too late ; 

All will be clear 
Some day, I know ; God cannot err ; and here 

I trust and wait ! 

I do not feel impatient for the end : 
His consolations now are very great ; 

It is so sweet 
To sit here silently at His dear feet. 

And trust and wait ! 

I whisper — " Father, glorify Thy name ! ^' 
And this my inmost soul doth supplicate : 

" Thy will not mine ! " 
I praise Him for a faith that is divine ; 

And — trust — and — wait ! 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 15 



[Extract from the September Spikit of the Word, 1902. J 

^It Is All Over/' 

These were the words that fell upon my ears a little after 
six o'clock, Sunday morning, September 14. I had not 
yet arisen from my bed, but was lying there awake, as I 
had been for some time, thinking of the dear one up 
stairs ; I was at the Sanitarium where my wife was sick. 
We had known for some days that the end was near so 
far as any human help was concerned. I was simply 
waiting for God. I could do my wife no good for she 
did not recognize me, so I lay there in the early dawn 
that never-to-be-forgotten Sunday morning. A gentle 
knock at the door. " Come in." She came in and with 
loving sympathy bent over me with her hand upon my 
head, — " It is all over." There was infinite pity in her 
voice as again she spoke. " It was so hard to tell you." 
There were tears in her words and my heart was touched 
and soothed at the same time. I made no exclamation ; 
" I was prepared for it,^' was all I said ; I felt more like 
comforting her in her genuine sorrow and sympathy. 

I cannot write more now of this overwhelming ex- 
perience. I can only say that God has comforted me in 
a way that I would not have thought possible before the 
blow fell. And still I Trust and Wait. 



16 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



It Is All Oven 



" It is all over ! " 
We felt the piercing sword at every word, 
This was the end of hope so long deferred ; 
Our heads were bowed as the cold waves of grief 
Kolled on, and brought to us that strange relief : 
" It is all over ! " 

It was all over : 
The cruel knife had done its work at last ; 
The weary hours of suffering were past ; 
The burdened sigh had been exchanged for rest 
The wandering hands lay calmly on her breast : 
It was all over ! 

What was all over ? 
Not the long days of loneliness and loss, — 
For us remained the bearing of the cross ; 
And memories, like gaunt, ill-omened birds. 
Had not been banished by those few, sad words, — 
« It is all over ! " 

Some things were over ; 
We could praise God, amid the shadows dense, 
For the out- workings of His Providence ; 
Some things were left that we could thank Him for. 
Our trust in Him, our calmness was not o'er ; 

All was not over ! 



80K6S OF THE SPIBIT. 17 



A Prayen 

Work on, Thou faithful, patient,' God ; 
And use Thy sharp, two-edged sword 

On this branch of Thy Vine ! 
Cut off each tendril that would cling 
To earthly ties, or anything 

That frustrates grace divine ! 

We praise Thee, that the pruning knife 
Which cuts away this old self -life. 

Is in the Father's hand. 
He wounds, but oh, He heals again ; 
As He reveals His love through pain 

We learn to understand. 

Purge out the last remains of sin ; 
And make Thine offspring pure within, 

That more abundantly 
The fruit of love and joy and peace 
May daily yield a rich increase, — 

The glory all for Thee. 

Finish the work Thou hast begun ; 
Perfect Thine image in each one, 

That we may all appear 
Blameless and harmless in Thy sight, — 
Faultless before Thy presence bright ; 

Sealed with Thy Name, so dear ! 



18 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



Introduction to Extracts from Notes* 

In tlie carrying out of a life-long habit were these 
*' notes " written. He had no idea when writing them 
that they would be used in any such way as this ; ^there- 
fore are they the more vivid and graphic ; they were 
written when the experience was at white heat, 
with the thought that some day he would read them 
over with Addie, when she was well, and restored to 
home and loving friends ; and then they would rejoice 
over them together and look into each other's faces 
and say, " What hath God wrought ?'' But it was not 
to be. So now they are published in this little book, 
just as they were written, revealing as they do the in- 
most pulsations of two quivering hearts, torn asunder 
under most harrowing circumstances, after being happi- 
ly united for many years. The dreadful surgical 
details, covering as they did several weeks of two opera- 
tions a day, far worse than the original one, need not be 
rehearsed ; he does not wish to remember thevij only as 
they set forth the keeping power of God and the all- 
sufficiency of his grace. The purpose of this book is 
to, — Comfort^ hence so much is put down of the afflic- 
tion, as will adequately bring out by contrast the great- 
ness of the, — 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 19 



Comfort* 

" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort ; 
who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be 
able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through 
the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted 
from God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound un- 
to us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through 
Christ. But whether we be afflicted it is for your com- 
fort and salvation ; or whether we be comforted, it is 
for your comfort, which worketh in the patient endur- 
ing of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and 
our hope for you is steadfast j knowing that as ye are 
partakers of the sufferings ; so also are ye of the com- 
fort.'^ (2 Cor. 1 : 3-7, R. V.) 



Extracts from Notes written duringf Addicts sickness* 

July 7, Monday. Addie went to the hospital this 
evening ; operation to-morrow forenoon at ten o'clock. 
A great trial for us all. We are told that the operation 
is not a serious one at all ; but it is a very serious matter 
to us. 

There is a great feeling of gratitude in my heart for 



20 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

the strength God gives Addie to go through this ordeal ; 
it is wonderful, considering her timidity and fear of be- 
ing hurt, her nervousness and dread of surgery. It is 
very brave of her and nothing but the power of God can 
give her this calmness and strength. 
Blessed be his Name forever ! 

July 8, 1902. I had a blessed experience watching 
her being etherized. As I stood there during that 
fifteen minutes and watched her die (for so it seemed, 
and, for all I knew, so it might have proved), I saw 
not the doctor administering the ansesthetic, but I saw 
the Father ; and I said, *' So let her die to self and to 
all that is unlike thee, my God." At times she 
choked ; her face was distorted with a spasm of nausea 
and she would raise her arms, and I said, " Every 
wrinkle, every movement, every pain, is of thee, my 
Pather, and there will not be one more than is needed. 
All is of God.'^ 

July 21. I am weary, weary, waiting for God ; 
and yet I wait. He gave me Psa. 69 : 1-3, 5, 6, and the 
whole psalm ; it reveals the heart of Jesus ; he too cried 
out in anguish unto God. I felt like Jeremiah. See 
Jer. 15 : 18 and 20 : 7 ; compare Ezek. 14 : 9. 

July 23. 1 o'clock at night. All I can do is to 
blindly trust and wait. I have said like Jer. 20 : 9. 
To-night when I saw Addie I said, God is leaving us 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 21 

botli £o go alone ; this is the last lesson to learn, to trust 
him in the dark, — when he seems to desert you, when 
apparently he goes back on you and lets you be con- 
founded in the sight of others. Psa. 69 : 6. 

July 25. When I saw Addie this noon she greeted 
me with a smile such as I had not seen on her face since 
she left home. Blessed be Jehovah ! and so I ask for 
nothing, — expect nothing, — hope for nothing, neither do 
I wish. I simply accept whatever comes of the Lord. 
" The cup that my Father giveth me, shall I not drink 
it?'^ 

Give what thou pleaseth, O my Father, withhold what 
thou pleaseth, do whatever seemeth thee good. Amen. 

July 26. Another thought. The doctor and the nurse 
had said that Addie would be better when we had some 
good sunshiny weather (we have been having a long 
spell of cloudy, damp, cold weather). So for several 
days I have been looking, when I first got up, to see 
what kind of weather it was ; and when morning after 
morning it was still cloudy and cool I have felt regret 
and wished it might be clear. But to-day it came to 
me. What has the weather to do with God's work ? If 
I was considering the matter from man's point of view, 
then indeed I might take the weather into account ; but 
if God is managing this case then the weather need not 
be considered at all, for His will will be done any way. 



22 SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 

All this is to eliminate /, and enthrone God ; and this is 
the kingdom of heaven. 

In accordance with this conviction vsrhen I was told 
Sunday night by the nurse and by the doctor of some 
unfavourable symptoms, I said to myself, I need not 
concern myself about such things ; they do not count 
from God's standpoint, which is the only point of view 
from which I care to consider the matter. It makes no 
difference what would be the natural course of the 
disease, or what a physician might professionally ex- 
pect, God is the prime mover here, and precedents and 
ordinary laws do not count. 

July 30. When I saw Addie to-day the Doctor said 
that she was decidedly better and would be able to sit 
up in two or three days. Now maybe she will come 
home soon. I shall be glad ; and yet I wait on God. 

The Love of God nestles in my heart like a living 
thing and makes it warm toward all his creatures. I 
cannot express the flutter and gentle tumult of this liv- 
ing love. It is like inward laughter, a continual song, the 
divine good-will and satisfaction ; the influx and out- 
flow of the thoughts of God. Outwardly it is the music 
of the spheres, the harmony of the ages. Inwardly it 
is everlasting peace and rest. 

Aug. 2. It seems that every time I go to see Addie 
(I go every day) I learn something new, and all in the 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 23 

line that God is doing it all. To-night I learned some- 
thing. I have been feeling very bad because Addie was 
so nervous and restless; especially as night came on; 
uneasy, want to change position very often, have " aw- 
ful thoughts/^ as she said ; feel as though she would 
^* never get well," etc. etc. I have felt very much 
grieved about this and have thought, " This will retard 
her recovery. that she might overcome this,'' etc. 
Have talked to her about it, but that makes no differ- 
ence. I think it is a mistake to talk. To-night it 
came to me this way. This too is of God, and instead 
of its being a detriment, it is favoui-able, works for 
good, like everything else. Whatever may be Addie's 
feelings God's plan will be carried out just the same ; if 
she is to get well, she will, whether she thinks so or 
not ; her discouragement or fear or " awful thoughts " 
will not change the final result which God has deter- 
mined ; so I may rest in that respect just as I did in 
regard to the weather (see July 26th). bless God for 
the Victory, even our faith ! 

Aug. 3. To-night in seeing Addie the lesson I 
learned was this, that I am still looking for some special 
result within a specified time. What I mean is this. 
When I saw Addie to-night she was in a very poor con- 
dition. It was late and she was worn out with the day ; 
sore and full of aches and pains, and much distressed. 
I felt greatly cast down. I thought, *< What is it that 



24 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

keeps her this way so long ? I expected her to be sit- 
ting up before this, but she seems worse instead of bet- 
ter J " etc. Now I can see that unconsciously I was 
setting metes and bounds to God ; that is, I am mental- 
ly saying, " Now it is time for Addie to sit up ; now she 
should be greatly improved ; now she should be cheer- 
ful, not groaning or discouraged," etc. Thus I am 
deciding what should be and when it should be, and 
feeling disappointed because it is not as / expected, etc. 
All this is unconscious on my part and yet this is what 
I am doing. If I fully realized that all is of God then 
I need not be cast down at anything. Having no plans 
of my own, not knowing what is best, and desiring only 
God's way, I would simply stand by and see the Father 
do it, accepting everything that comes, every phase of 
the case, all of Addie's manners and feelings, as a part 
of the plan of God and needful to bring about the final 
result which He has determined. 

I see it. I'm learning the lesson. Praise God. 

I felt bad to-night when I saw how poor and thin 
Addie had grown, with protruding joints and shrunken 
and flabby muscles, and unsightly blotches here and 
there. my dear life, how hast thou been blemished 
in the hands of the enemy ! And yet is it not God ? 
therefore I am sure he will not leave her so, but make 
her all fair and perfect physically as well as spiritually. 

She was sleeping ; crossed hands ; weak and tired ; 



SOKGS OF THE SPIRIT. 25 

she looked up at me and I smiled; she returned it, 
slight and wan. my beautiful one ! my Addie ! She 
said, ** O Arthur, don't leave me, don't leave me, T have 
no one to hold on to but you and God." She put me 
before God; at first it shocked me, but when I con- 
sidered it further, I said to myself, perhaps it was right 
from her standpoint, and in her weakened state. (1 Cor. 
ll:3;Eph. 5: 23.) 

Aug. 11. I learned to-night for the first time that 
Addie was in real and imminent danger. I simply say, 
" my Father if it be possible let this cup pass from 
me ; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done." 
Once before in my life 1 offered this prayer when a 
deadly sorrow menaced me ; then the cup passed ; how 
it will be now God only knows ; still, in this dark night 
I trust and wait. 

Aug. 14. Walking in the shadow of death ; it is with 
me all the time ; like a lump in my throat ; like lead 
in my heart ; and yet, — and yet, — and yet, — The Father 
holds me ; that's all I can say. Fm doing nothing, and 
am nothing. 

Afternoon of the same day. Addie decidedly better. 
I praise God that I feel somewhat relieved. When I 
saw her she greeted me with a bright smile as once be- 
fore since she has been sick. " My soul wait thou only 
upon God ; my expectation is from Himy " Jehovah 
alone shall be exalted in that day " (Isa. 2). 



26 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

O how I rejoice in the will of God ! and how glad I 
am that I know that Addie is in his hands ! 

Aug. 19. It looks like t?Le shadow of death again ; al- 
though I don't know as Addie is any worse than she has 
been all along. If I was looking at it from the human 
standpoint I would be discouraged. Addie said she felt- 
as though she was sinking ; it was a painful time, dark 
and wearing. 

Late at night. I have just heard from Addie that 
she is very weak ; nurse has never seen her so weak. 
The shadow of death ! the shadow of death ! but only 
the shadow, — is it not so, my Father ? shall the waters 
overflow ? 

Aug. 20. When I saw Addie this afternoon she was 
much better, and our handling her did not weaken her 
as yesterday. Thus the shadow lifts ; and yet it is still 
there. But the Father made the darkness as well as the 
light (Isa. 45 : 7) and both are alike to Him (Psa. 139 : 
12). But in Him all is light (1 Jn. 1 : 5). Centred in 
God ! Centred in God ! 

Aug. 21. Still the Shadow of death ; the Shadow of 
death. Addie is in a very critical condition. I think 
the nurse and the doctor think the chances are all 
against her ; and yet they both say they think she will 
get well. She seems to be more than holding her own. 
The nurse talks hopefully, but whether she speaks 



SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 27 

more hopefully than she feels in order to encourage me 
I don't know. All this on the lower plane. It looks 
like the shadow of death settling down. The thought 
comes to me very often that any moment I may be 
called to her side by the worst of news. this dark 
night ! But God is here, and He is light. I keep 
awake until three o'clock every night (or rather morn- 
ing) that I may be ready if I should have a sudden call. 
And so I keep my vigil, — waiting on God. I should 
not want to write all my thoughts and feelings, — all my 
doubts and questionings. But He knows. He knows ; 
and yet what if ... ? but even in that case, sup- 
posing it was so, what else could I do than I am doing ? 
in any event, whatever be the truth, what else can I do 
but trust and wait ? I cannot go back on my life. 
The disciples said, " To whom shall we go, thou alone 
hath the words of eternal life." If you have not the 
truth, no one has it ; therefore we risk nothing by hold- 
ing to thee. Clouds and darkness are round about Him. 
The thick darkness is His garment. 

" thou that dwelleth between the Cherubim shine 
forth ! "... and yet ... ? and yet . . ? 

. . . Still I trust and wait, — though my sun set in 
darkness, and my eyes look their last on utter failure 
and defeat. It can be no worse than with Him whose 
dying words were, " My God, my God, why hast thou 
forsaken me." 



28 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Aug. 26. Almost midnight. That which I have 
thought of has come at last. This forenoon a telephone 
call to Addie, — "Come quick, she is very low." I 
started on my wheel. that ride ! I was calm, I did 
not pray. I have done all my praying. I did not hurry. 
I did not even say, " if it be possible let this cup pass 
from me; *' nor, " thy will be done ;'' nor any prayer 
whatever. I just simply felt that the Father and I had 
a perfect understanding, and I would accept whatever 
came of Him. " Hold fast the profession of your faith 
without wavering." my God ! my God! I found that 
Addie had had an awful collapse while the doctor and 
nurses were attending to her ; pulse all gone ; heart 
apparently stopped ; they dropped everything and worked 
over her and when I got there she was just beginning to 
rally. I staid there all day and into the evening ; it was 
wonderful how she came up. Late at night I heard 
from her over the phone ; she was doing well and very 
quiet, but the doctor said " She is liable to drop off any 
minute." The shadow of death ! and yet my thought is 
that it will not overflow ; but whether the thought is 
only the product of my desire, I know not. / have no 
faith. " The life that I now live I live by the faith of 
the Son of God." I have let go of everything ; if I am 
held at all, He holds me, and so I still, trust and wait. 

Aug. 29. The word the Lord gave me to-day was, 
^^ Take no thought." " Take no thought." 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 29 

I had a very remarkable indication of the Father's care. 
Addie has a very severe ordeal to go through every 
morning, lasting about two hours (also at night, but not 
so bad) but a part of it is much worse than the rest, 
and the doctor has all along left this worst part for the 
last ; it was while going through this worst part that she 
collapsed the other day (see Aug. 26th). I thought that 
it would be better to attend to this worst part first, and 
she would have more strength to bear it, than to wait 
until she was all worn out with the other and then come 
to the worst last. I thought I would suggest this to one 
of the nurses and ask her to speak to the doctor, but I 
hated to interfere. I knew that God was doing it, so I 
kept still and left it all with Him. And, lo, when the 
doctor came in she proposed the very thing I had in 
mind and for the very same reason,, and the work pro- 
ceeded just as I had thought best, without a word from 
me. how much better it is to wait on God and let 
Him manage all things and keep your own hands off ! 
"Take no thought." "Take no thought." I am going 
to bed (Psa. 4:8). I want to think also about writing to 
Charlie. 

Sept. 8. This was another epoch in Addie's sickness ; 
she was very bright and smiling ; all were delighted to 
see her, and she was so pleased. She said to me, " What 
does this mean, Arthur, did I have to go through death ?" 
" Yes," I said, " we all have to go through it." When 



30 SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 

the doctor came slie said Addie was " immensely better,'^ 
but even on this I do not build, but on God, — God, — God. 
When I came home the thought came to me, perhaps 
it will best glorify God that Addie should die ; and I 
said with a sinking shrinking heart, " Whichever way 
will most glorify thee, Father." Kow as I write I can 
say it stronger, thy will, thy will, not mine. 

Sept. 10. When I came in she was sleeping. I 
watched her and after a little she roused up, and 
brightened when she recognized me, and smiled. O how 
much her smile is worth to me ! O my beloved, my be- 
loved ! " What is thy beloved more than another be- 
loved?'' (Cant. 5 : 9.) 

Sept. 14. This Morning / . . . A little after six dear 
Mrs. W. came in and bent over me, . . . Ah, dear heart 
. . . How calm I am ! Praise God ! It is now a little 
after ten o'clock at night ; they have all gone to bed ; I 
am here at the Sanitarium apparently alone ... all is 
quiet . . . night. " This Morning " seems a long long 
time ago. Thank God I am calm and quiet. 

Sept. 15. She was not ... 1 have known it a long 
time . . . but, O my darling ! Even now the Father 
seems to be giving me an inkling of the reason for this. 
Is it an inkling ? 

Time, Time, Time; thou merciful Nurse ! smoothing 
out the distorted visage, soothing the racked nerves, 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 31 

cheering the sinking heart, sowing again in the desolate 
life the seeds of immortal hope that shall yet blossom 
and bear fruit unto praise and honor and glory. Ah, 
Lord God, it is well thou hast broken up eternity unto 
time, we cannot yet bear the infinite. 

One time when they were dressing Addie's wounds 
she cried out in agony, *' O death, death, death !" then 
she suddenly changed it to — " Life, life, life !" how 
all those things did encourage me ! but what avails it 
now ? only a blessed memory ; and yet it is all right ; I 
know it, and *^ Sometime we'll understand." 

The nurse told me that one night Addie began to talk 
to her, evidently thinking that she was talking to me ; 
she said, *^ O how hard it is to leave you, Arthur, and 
the home ; and yet it is all right. I want you to keep 
the home open and look out for the boys.'* This was in 
substance what she said. She sometimes spoke about 
dying and always said it was " all right." 

O my dear Life, you did trust God, and rest in him, 
didn't you? in spite of the racking anguish and the 
shadow of death ! 

my Father, you will give her back to me some day, 
wont you ? 

1 will wait, wait. 

I am having a quiet blessed day here at the Sanitarium. 
Addie lived here last, and she loved, and was beloved. 
I did not want to go and stay all night with her poor 



32 SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 

dead body : nor did I want to be in the midst of the 
confusion of the funeral preparations. People make so 
much of such things. 

My blessed Lord and Saviour had to drink the cup to 
its bitterest dregs. The Father did not spare Him, 
How relentless it seemed ! Shall I not rejoice to know 
so fully the *' fellowship of his suffering ?" and thereby 
be " made conformable unto his death ?" that I may 
" know the power of his resurrection ?" Yea I do rejoice. 

I was in hopes I might be spared the last bitter 
draught. But why should 1? He was not spared, am 
I better than my Lord ? Nay, am I not greatly blessed 
in thus so fully suffering with Him ? Yes, yes, verily. 
But, my Darling ! my Darling ! why shouldst thou 
have suffered so ? Was not the price too great ! too great ! 
My God, thou knowest, and I shall know ; still I trust 
and wait. 

And yet, I think, this cry is out of my human heart. 
I might rather ask, Why should she not suffer ? millions 
have suffered, — worse, — and to the bitter end, — death ; 
and why not she? Yes, — yes, — as pitiless as it seems ; — 
it is true. I leave her still in the unbroken silence. 
Some day it will speak ; it shall not be unresponsive, 
unknown forever. What can I do but wait ? What 
could any one do but that ? Meantime I have God, 
bless his Name ! He has not permitted me to be beaten 
to pieces on this unknown shore, — not wholly wrecked ; 
indeed, indeed, I praise Him for it all, because I partly 
understand it. Light breaks. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 33 



Pain* 

Thou art no foe, dear angel — Pain, 

Tho* often so misunderstood ; 
Where agony and anguish reign 

Thou art the Minister of good. 

Far more than in the sunshine's glow, — 

The angel of prosperity — 
"We learn through thee our God to know ; 

Thou art to us no mystery ! 

We will not dread thee any more, 

But welcome thy gray clouds, Pain, 

With showers of blessing to outpour. 

And cleanse us from earth's dust and stain. 

Thou wilt complete thy work at last, 
Deserving then the meed, ^^ Well done ! " 

When suffering and death are past, 
God will be known by every one. 



Shared Sorrow. 

What binds our hearts in closest bonds ? 

" Why love," you answer. This is true ; 
Your love for me is precious, dear ; 

And even so my love for you. 



34 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

But how came we such love to know, — 
Was it because our joys could blend, 

Because our tastes ran parallel, 
We are the other's bosom-friend ? 

Ah, is it not because our hearts 

Have passed through Baca's sombre vale? 

We both have known the other's grief, — 
Have told to each the same sad tale ! 

Thus you have borne my burden, dear ; 

And I have shared your sorrows too : 
Your woes have bound you close to me ; 

My tears have held me fast to you. 

To drink life's sweet from the same cup, 
Is not a bliss one should despise ; 

But they who share the bitter draughts 
Know more of love in her true guise. 



Renunciation. 



Soul, didst thou covenant with thy Beloved 

To keep within the pathway of His choice, — 
Leaving all else to cleave alone to Him, — 

Deaf to all calls but thine own Shepherd's voice ? 
Then thou must follow Him without the camp, 

Meeting reproach, and sharing in His shame : 
Eor only thus canst thou receive His seal. 

And henceforth bear the impress of His name. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 35 

Was He reviled who always sought to serve, 

And never pleased Himself or did His will, — 
But went about on ministries of love. 

His mission of salvation to fulfil ? 
These very deeds were called the devil's work : 

Christ was betrayed, forsaken and denied 
By those who were the nearest to His heart ; 

And by His own at last was crucified. 

Canst thou drink of his cup and be baptized 

With such a fiery baptism as this ? 
Count well the cost before thou think'st to gain 

The wedding robe, the ring, the Bridegroom's kiss. 
Wilt thou go with this Man the path He trod, — 

Bearing the cross He carried to the end — 
Unknown, unloved, save by the very few. 

And to thy foes a never failing friend ? 

All that He suffered was to win men's love, — 

The price He paid thou canst not fully know, 
Because His love surpasseth human ken, 

'Tis God's great love in boundless overflow ! 
Wilt thou then make a covenant with Him, 

And for such love count all things else as loss ? 
Then set thy face toward Christ's Jerusalem, 

Nor faint beneath the pressure of thy cross. 

He gave His life for thee, give thine for Him ; 
He gave His life for all, — do thou as He ; 



36 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

First die His death, (a fellowship divine) 

Then live His life to all eternity. 
Could greater bliss be thine than thus to bear 

His name, and know His resurrection power ? 
All thou hast lost for Him God will restore, 

In added bounty to thy Bridal dower. 



Mother-Love. 



Is there a love more like Thyself, my God, 
Than that a mother for her offspring feels ? 

The wife will love because she is so loved; 
The little child a helpless love reveals ; 

But in a mother's love is strength and pain ; 

She gives without demanding a return, — 
A ceaseless sacrifice of flesh and blood, — 

An altar where the fires forever burn ! 

A love that trampled on grows sweeter still. 
That when rejected doth nob yet abate ; 

So sure she is of victory at last, 

She can endure and for her triumph wait. 

The love that gently covereth the wrong, 
And always to the weak ones of her nest 

Gives most of her great wealth of vigilance ; 
Folding them closer to her patient breast. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Is there a love more like Thyself, my God ? 

Nay ; is this not the essence of Thine own, 
The love that suff' ring long is ever kind, 

And that no power of evil can dethrone ? 

So may we learn of Thee through Mother-love, 
The highest type that we poor mortals know ; 

For like a Father Thou dost pity us, 
And as a mother comforteth us so ! 

Ps. 103 : 13, 14. Isa. 66 : 13. 



sr 



^' I Shall Be Satisfied/' 



" I shall be satisfied ! " Let this suffice, — 
What though we differ in theory today, — 

Still, if God's Word is our Pearl of Great Price, 
We are all travelling home the same way. 

" I shall be satisfied ! " It is enough : 
All your desires and mine this shall meet. 

Sometimes the path may be steep and quite rough; 
But the reward at the end will be sweet. 

" I shall be satisfied ! " Whether I see 

Things as you see them, it matters not, dear. 

Much we contend for is still mystery ; 
But very soon every truth will be clear. 



38 SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 

" I shall be satisfied ! *' Here let us rest. 

Father is faithful ; each promise secure ! 
For you and me remaineth God's best ; 

All will he satisfied we may be sure. 



A Man/' Isa. 32:2. 



" Lordj what is man ?'' The Psalmist cries, 
The creature of so brief a day ! — 
Why art Thou mindful of him, Lord, 
That Thou delightest in his way J 

Is man the noblest work of God, 

The acme of creative-skill ? 
Will God all of His promises 

To every man at last fulfil ? 

Can God subject all things to man ? 

He who has power the dead to raise ? 
Yes ; although now we do not see 

Man crowned with glory and with praise. 

He holds to-day a humble place, 

Defiled by sin and misery ; 
But in God's well beloved Son 

His thought for all mankind we see. 



SONGS OF THE SPIKIT. 39 

We trace the steps by which our Lord 

Ascended to His Father's throne ; 
And thus the pathway we must tread 

From earth to heaven is made known 

For every lowly son of man 

Christ's vict'ry over death shall share ; 
And by the triumphs of the cross 

A crown of life and glory wear. 

A man shall be a hiding-place, — 

The shelter of a Mighty-Rock ; 
And through the sheep-fold's only Door 

The Shepherd will bring home His flock. 

Behold the Man ! God's finished work, — 
Consider Him ! — and then exclaim, — 

Lord, our Lord, how excellent, 
How very wonderful, thy Name ! 



The End in View* 



If God can make a perfect man 
Out of such dust as we are, dear, 

We would not want to thwart His plan, 
Nor with His purpose interfere ? 



40 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

The process may be painful — true : 
'Tis no small task to undertake ; 

But only God such work can do, 

And He will, for His own Name's sake. 

God's methods are the very best, 
How can we ever doubt His skill ? 

God's wisdom must stand every test ; 
We've only to yield to His will. 

Then let God cleanse us, break us up, 
And place us in the furnace heat, — 

Mould us into A Loving Cup, 
A vessel for His service Meet. 

When we are finished some sweet day, 
And faultless in our Father's sight. 
What will it be to hear Him say, 
He finds in us His Soul's delight ? 

O joy, to hear Him then declare, 
'Mid Heaven's blessed minstrelsy, 

" My well beloved, thou art all fair ; 
No spot or wrinkle is in thee ! " 



"Wanted — A Home* 



Wanted, — a home, where Love is in control. 
Not only in some part, but in the whole, — 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 41 

Where Fatlier comes with eager step at even, 
So thankful he may rest in such a haven ; 
For at the threshold he can turn away 
From every anxious care throughout the day. 

A home where Mother is acknowledged queen, 
And all her subjects are of happy mien ; 
Where every room displays her gentle skill, 
And every heart is loyal to her will ; 
Where sons and daughters in gay rivalry 
Strive most to honor her sweet majesty. 

A home where each is planning in some wise 
To give to some one else a glad surprise ; 
Where selfish thoughts can gain no lodging place, 
And where of frowns one cannot find a trace : 
Each brow is smooth and free from fretful lines, 
Because each face with loving kindness shines. 

This home is wanted, whether large or small, — 

A lowly cottage or a stately hall ; 

We will not ask the value of it twice, 

For none can over-estimate the price. 

In this cold, hard and bitter world the heart 

Longs for a home where Love rules every part. 

" Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place," we read ; 
This is the home the weary-hearted need : 



42 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

No discord can intrude its peace to mar, — 
No cares are there, no worry, fret or jar : 
This is a home where Love is in control, 
YoT God is Love — O rest in Him, my soul ! 



Extracts 

'' And all this house of love was peopled fair 
With sweet attendance, so that in each part. 
With lovely sights, were gentle faces found ; 
Soft speech and willing service ; 
Each one glad to gladden, 
Pleased to give pleasure 
Proud to obey." 

— ^^ Light of Asia J ^ 



'* Without and Within/' 

He had written a letter (Nov. 1902) of his lodging 
room in the great city. In the upper story of a tall 
building, right in the business centre, amid the noise 
and clatter and filth and wickedness of grasping greedy 
humanity ; and, with all the rest, the inevitable and 
accursed saloon. He could look down from his lofty 
window and, through the transom over the saloon door, 
see the poor lost wretches, in a hell of their own mak- 
ing, lined up along the bar, pouring down the stuff that 



SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 43 

debauches the brain, destroys the body and gives the 
whole man over to the control of wanton lust. Up to 
his ears came the cries and curses of half drunken brutes 
as they were pitched out of the saloon for some cause, 
or fought together in the filthy street. At almost any 
time in the night might be heard the obscene wrangling 
of vile men, and women, still more vile. To his room 
windows were iuside wooden shutters, and as soon as it 
came dark he would close these tight, and thus shut out 
the hateful sights and sounds. Then with a brilliant 
light and an open fire place he could have all the light 
and warmth he desired ; and, shut in with God, he could 
write or read or attend to his work whatever it was, in 
quietness and peace. Impressed by this letter, sister 
wi'ote the following verses. 



Without and Within, 



The night is without, 
Where the winds of doubt 

Are making a ceaseless din ; 
And many a bark 
Is wrecked in the dark 

On the cruel reefs of sin. 



44 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Within is the light 
Of the God of might ; 

And silence, and rest, and calm, 
And a faith that sees 
Through these mysteries 

The strength of His holy arm. 

Without is the roar 
Of the angry war 

Of words that are false and vain ; 
Within is the peace 
Of the Truth's increase ; 

And the notes of a sweet refrain. 

Within we may hide 
Till the storm outside 

Is hushed by His voice divine ; 
And the gloom of night 
Has been put to flight 

By the beams of God's glad sunshine. 

In this secret place 
We may daily trace 

New phases of Love's strange ways ; 
And rejoice to know 
God has planned things so 

That all tongues shall to Him give praise! 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 46 



-''All Things are of God/^ 

No less than seven times is this statement made in 
the New Testament ; viz. Rom. 11 : 36 ; 1 Cor. 8 : 6 ; 11 : 
12 ; 2 Cor. 5 : 18 ; Eph. 1 : 11 ; Heb. 2 : 10 ; 3 : 4. Do 
you realize, reader, how wonderful and blessed this is ? 
You may accept it in all its length and breadth. In 
some sense, all things, evil as well as good, are " of 
God " (Isa. 45 : 1-7). If you would read a striking 
illustration of how evil things are " of God,'' see the 
story of Joseph in the last fourteen chapters of Genesis, 
noticing especially Gen. 45 : 3-8. Also consider in the 
New Testament the story of Christ's passion and 
death, with John 19 : 11 and Acts 4 : 26-28. 



All Thingfs of God. 

(Rom. 11 : ;S6.) 



All things of God ! Dear heart, thou needst not fear, — 
The waves may toss themselves, but not prevail ; 

Although for many days no stars appear, 
This is an anchor that can never fail, 
All things of God ! 



46 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

All things of God, where all seems to be wrong, 
When winds are contrary and dangers nigh, 

When friends forsake and enemies are strong ? 
To every question there is one reply, — 
All things of God ! 

All things of God — the bitter and the sweet ! 

Both good and evil are at His command ; 
His will controls, God never meets defeat : 

No power can stay the strength of His right hand. 
All things of God ! 

All things of God ! There we may rest content : 
Since God is love, his plan is best for thee 

What e'er the curse 'tis for a blessing sent ; 
Good shall alone result eternally ! 
All things of God. 



** God is Enough,'' 

This is a fact ; but very few know it. The only way 
we ever can know it is by being put into circumstances 
where we have " the Lord alone." (Isa. 2 : 11, 17.) Then 
we find, what we never would have otherwise believed, 
that God is enough ; and then He gives us back the very 
things he took away ; and thus, in Him, the Lost, is 
Found again. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 47 



God is Enough* 

' Tis a precious lesson learned 

When we find 
God can fully satisfy 

Heart and mind ; 
So we are content to part 
With the treasures of our heart, 
Just because, O God, Thou art 

All, combined ! 

We can venture then to give 

All to Him, 
Tho' our eyes with human tears 

May be dim : 
'FoT God shows us o'er and o'er 
How our lost He doth restore. 
Thus becoming ours the more 

When in Him. 

As we find our God enough 

We can claim 
All our treasures found in Him, 

Praise His Name ! 
Human loves are made divine 
When we know " all mine are Thine ; '^ 
And we sing, ^' all Thine are mine,^' 

Praise His Name ! 



48 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Some seven years ago (1896) I wrote the following 
prayer in a casual letter to a friend. It was published 
in the Spirit of the Word, Aug. 1896. In after years 
I found it was inspired and prophetic. God took me at 
my word. I am glad ; it is still, 



My Prayer. 

Dear Lord, don't you mind my weakness ; you know 
you7' strength is made perfect in my weakness ; don't 
mind my failures ; do not spare me for my shrinking ; 
make me like thyself — like thyself ^ dear Lord, in any 
way, at any cost, no matter whether I like it or not. 
You know best, dear Lord, and I want you to have 
your own way in me. Not my will, but thine, always : 
probably I shall not like the process ; it will hurt ; I 
may even feel discouraged and almost ready to draw 
back ; doubts will assail me, fears will torment me, I 
may be weary of the conflict and sigh for rest and cry 
for deliverance before the work is done. Never mind, 
dear Lord, finish the work you have begun, for thy 
name's sake, and for thine own glory, and stay not thy 
hand until thou seest, clear, and true, and perfect, thine 
own image and likeness in me ; and to thee, and thee 
alone, shall be all the praise forever. Amen. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



In the following, sister lias put it into verse 
** My Prayer/' 

(Isa. 43 : 10.) 

Dear Lord, mind not my weakness, 

Thy strength is the supply ; 
And do not note my failures, 

Nor spare because I cry ; 
But make me like thyself, Lord, 

Yea, like Thyself I pray ! 
No matter what it costs me, 

Just have Thine own sweet way. 

Thou knowest what is hest^ Lord, 

Make every choice for me : 
Not my will, but Thine always^ — 

I leave it all with Thee. 
I may not like the process, 

' Twill wound my heart I know ; 
Perhaps I'll get discouraged. 

And oft' impatient grow : 

For doubts may press me sorely, 
Tormenting fears attack ; 

And feeling very weary, 

Perchance I may look back, — 



50 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

My God, forgive such, weakness, 
Work on till Thon art done ; 

Do Thou completely finish 
The blessed task begun. 

Do this for Thine own glory ! 

Stay not until thou see 
Thine image — TJmie own likeness — 

Perfectly wrought in me ; 
Yea, do this for Thy glory, 

Tor Thy Name's sake ! And then 
To Thee, and Thee alone^ Lord, 

Shall be the praise. Amen ! 



Knowing God. 



Wednesday eve, January 7, 1903, he talked on Know- 
ing God. Most people know God as the One who will 
be ; he will do great things for them in the fnture, — 
after death, in heaven ; hence their triumphs and their 
joys are all postponed. Some know Him as the I Am, — 
" a very 'present help in every time of need " ; One who 
here and now is our righteousness, victory and Home. 
A few know Him as the One who always has been the 
same ; past, present and to come, Jehovah, the Coming 
One ; always coming ; always growing more and more to 
the trusting child ; and yet always the same, in all the 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 51 

past, even when we did not know or trust Him ; and in 
all the time to come nothing shall separate us from his 
love, until He shall become '' All in All." " The Father 
of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow 
of turning/' How is He to thee ? Thy future God ? 
thy present God? or thy Father, always, from everlasting 
to everlasting? 
That same evening sister wrote the following verses. 



Knowing God« 

O what joy, my God, is this, 

To know Thee I 
There can be no purer bliss 

Here for me. 
Than in everything to trace 
Thy sweet will, Thou God of grace ! 
Earth becomes a heavenly place. 

Knowing Thee ! 

What a wondrous peace it brings 

To know Thee ! 
Like the birds my spirit sings, 

Glad and free : 
Though the enemy would harm. 
Nothing can my heart alarm ; 
In this haven all is calm. 
Knowing Thee ! 



52 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

what rest of soul is mine, 

To know Thee ! 
Keeping me in a divine 

Ecstasy ! 
Not a burden can I bear, 
Nor the least weight of a care. 
It is wealth beyond compare, 

Knowing Thee ! 



The Reason of It* 



How apt we are to ask, " Why ? " " Why art thou 
cast down, my soul, and why art thou disquieted 
within me?" "0 Lord, why casteth thou off my soul ? 
why hidest thou thy face far from me ? " — and that 
most agonizing cry of all, " My God, my God, why hast 
thou forsaken me ? " So the writer has asked, why did 
he have this experience ? and he has received an an- 
swer ; he has been told the reason ; and one of the ways 
by which this answer came was through the 

MANY, CHEEKING, HELPFUL LETTERS 

that have poured in upon him in refreshing streams of 
sympathy and comfort from many friends. The limits 
of this little Memorial will not allow extensive publica- 
tion of these precious epistles, although they are well 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



53 



worthy of such publication, and he would be glad to 
give them such publicity, for the comfort and encourage- 
ment of others. But since he cannot do this he must 
content himself with a few extracts which answer this 
question, Whij ? Why do we have to go through with 
such trials ? What is the reason of it ? Here is an 
extract that answers ; it was received during Addie's 
sickness, right after the issue of the July paper, " Trust 
and Wait " (see page 13). 

« I thank you very kindly for sending me The Spirit 
OF THE Word ; it came just in time, as I was very much 
oppressed and troubled ; but, praise the dear Lord for 
the little paper, when I opened it, and saw the heading, 
' Trust and Wait,' and then read a little further on, I 
said to my husband. Now you see God is in all things. I 
am going to trust and wait ; and it lifted the burden, 
and I went and prayed and told my dear Father I 
would never doubt him again, as I knew he worked all 
things after the counsel of his own will (Eph. 1 : 11)." 

Is it not worth while to be made to mourn in order 
that you may " Comfort those that mourn " ? Is there 
any greater blessing than to be a blessing ? 

Here's another extract written after Addie's death. 

" My heart goes out in constant supplication to our 
Father on your behalf in this your hour of trial. I 
know it must hurt, but I look beyond to the time of 
fruitage that will be the result of this discipline and I 



54 SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 

see the abundance of luscious fruit that will be borne 
for the Kingdom through this pruning. what faith 
and confidence our Father must have in your loyalty 
and trust in Him to permit you to pass through this 
trial. I would like to shake your hand, brother, and 
tell you that I am a stronger woman in my faith in God 
since reading your experience of these last few weeks. 
It was you the Lord used to show me the beautiful 
truth that all things are of God, and has enabled me to 
become patient when I remembered whose hand was 
allowing all these horrid things to spoil my life. We 
never can comfort others till we have learned to know 
the need of it ourselves. Good bye, and God bless you ! 
we are lonely here while we think of your loneliness." 

Is there not a recompense for tears ? Jesus suffered 
being tempted, and so is able to succor them that are 
tempted ; shall we not rejoice that we may have some- 
thing of the same experience ? Here is another extract. 

" I received The Spirit of the Word (September 
number, see page 15) yesterday and want to tell you 
how it comforted me. I have said to myself so many 
times, how will he stand the terrible test ? When I 
read your own testimony and knew your faith had not 
failed, I praised God, took comfort and was encouraged. 
My flesh shrinks at the thought of what your agony was 
in seeing your loved one suffer. I have had a taste of it. 
Then all the darkness of questioning and doubts that 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 55 

come like a flood to sweep us away. No one can know 
what a fiery furnace you have been in until they have 
been there. Yes indeed, it takes years of preparation 
to be able to pass through it and come out victorious ; 
and yet it is a ' light affliction ' compared with * the ex- 
ceeding weight of glory \ it has and will bring you. It 
gives me courage to keep on until this long dark night 
of weeping is over. You have not won this victory for 
yourself alone. God will use it wonderfully for the 
blessing of others. I am not distressed for you now ; 
truly you are the one that can comfort, instead of seek- 
ing comfort. God has blessed you and caused his face 
to shine upon you (Num. 6 : 24-27). Your sister in the 
faith that All things are of God.''^ 

Here is one more that was greatly blessed to me. 

" You know that many hearts are going out toward 
youj and going up for you, and that, best of all, our 
Father who sits on the throne of the universe is sup- 
plying you with grace, and strength, and peace as he 
sees you need. the blessedness of knowing Him ! to 
know Him is trust, and rest and peace. From the 
human standpoint it is affliction, sorrow and bitter 
trials ; from his, looking through his eyes, we see only 
Love, Love, Love. Surely we can and do trust and wait 
in such loving hands. 

He who spared not his own Son 1900 years ago can 
not spare him now, — every purifying flame. But, O 
the glory that follows ! 



56 SONaS OF THE SPIRIT. 

The hour is here ; we shall see her again soon. Not 
lost, not dead, not parted, only the human vision can 
not penetrate the veil. * All live unto Him ' we do 
Trust and Wait." 

These are only a few from very many similar expres- 
sions. Do they not answer, at least partially, the ques- 
tion, Why ? Is it not blessed thus to be able to rejoice 
in our sufferings for others, and to fill up that 
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for his body's 
sake, which is the Church? (Col. 1 : 24.) The Elect 
are a sacrifice for the non-elect ; the First-born for the 
benefit of the later born; the Elder shall serve the 
younger. " I will bless thee and make thee a blessing.'* 
Are you willing to be made a blessing to others through 
suffering ? Such pre-eminently was the purpose of 
Christ's creation ; and such shall be thine if thou follow 
him. He that is able to receive it let him receive it. 



''Think It Not Strange/' 

Think it not strange, beloved, that thy heart 
Is pierced with many sorrows day by day ; 

Eather rejoice that thou mayst have a part 
In suffering with Him, who passed this way. 



SONGS OF THE SPIEIT. ^ 

Nothing can " happen," all is in God's plan ; 

There is a <' need be " in each trial here : 
Trace not your sore afflictions unto man, — 

Take all from God, however they appear. 

Seemeth it hard to take all things from God ? 

Is it not harder when we fail to see 
The Father's hand about the chastening rod, 

And feel ourselves left to the enemy ? 

Why do you look at agencies, things seen ? 

Is not our God to us the first and last ? 
If so it matters not what lies between, — 

He will control the future as the past. 

We are appointed hereunto, dear heart. 

This is the process for perfecting saints, — 
Such truth should take from every wound its smart. 

And seal our lips from questions and complaints. 
Let us then watch with Him this little hour, 

Amid the shadows of Gethsemane ! 
First share His sufferings and then His power. 

Drink of His cup, then know His Victory ! 



Patience. 

Thou God of patience, more and more 
Supply me with this grace divine ; 

And from Thy vast, exhaustless store 
Pour into this great need of mine. 



58 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Let patience liave her perfect work, 
Although severe the process be ; 

My Father, do not let me shirk 
The daily cross that raiseth me. 

Help me in all things to discern 

Thy loving will, Thy guiding hand ; 

And may it be my one concern 

To keep in mind Thy new command. 

For, my God, if filled with love, 
I will be patient then indeed ; 

And more and more this grace shall prove 
Sufficient for my greatest need. 



Centered in God. 



They tell us, in the center of a flame 
There is a point of coolness to be found 

Where insect-life may peacefully abide 
When burning heat has circled it around. 

And also in the center of the storm 

A ship may anchor and be quite secure, 

Until the fury of the blast is spent, 

And sky and sea the onward voyage assure. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 59 

So, we believe, in this vast universe 

Of changing stars and planets that revolve, 

There is a center of perpetual rest, — 

Although its length and breadth we cannot solve. 

Yet, at this point of undisturbed repose, 

Our minds have fixed the Father's dwelling-place, 

Whence life and light proceed in rays divine 
And penetrate the boundless realms of space. 

In this fair haven there is perfect peace, 
A refuge calm from storms or scorching heat ; 

And there the weak, the tempest tossed and sad. 
May find a resting place, a safe retreat. 

Without this center is the strife of tongues, 

The clash of creeds, the whirl of doubts and fears ; 

But to the soul within this blest abode, 
The vision is of faith undimmed by tears. 

Then let us follow on through mist and maze, 
His strength our staff. His wisdom for our rod. 

Until we pass beyond the realm of sight 

Into the soul's true home, — Centered in God ! 



Faithful. 

Lord, make me faithful unto the end, 
Faithful to foe as well as to friend ; 



60 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Willing to go or willing to stay, 
Faithful in every word, work and way : 
Lord make me faithful ! 

Lord, keep me faithful, steadfast and true. 
Though I have neither five talents nor two. 
Not to be honored or loved do I ask, 
Only kept faithful whatever my task : 
Lord, keep me faithful ! 

Lord, keep me faithful, although I may be 
Misunderstood and judged cruelly ; 
Yet keep me patient, forgiving and sweet, — 
Faithful in victory or in defeat. 
Lord, keep me faithful ! 



'' Yc are Gods/' Psa; 82 : 6. 

What art Thou doing, O Thou Mighty God ? 
Thou breakest man as with an iron rod ; 
Thou turnest him e'en to destruction's brink ; 
And in the miry pit Thine offspring sink. 

Are we not Thine ? Didst thou not give us breath ? 
Why are we brought into this scene of death, 
This charnel-house of wretchedness and woe ? 
Whence come we, and oh, whither shall we go ? 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 61 

Do we come forth as flowers to be cut down, 
Are we but grass at evening to be mown ? 
Tell us, God, why hast Thou made mankind, 
What pleasure in creation dost Thou find ? 

Hush, hush, be quiet ; and thy God will speak ! 
The Mighty One will bow down to the weak. 
Draw close thy mantle that it hide thy shame , 
Be still ! And let God vindicate His name. 

<< What am I doing, dost thou ask of Me ? 
Poor, weary soul, God will reply to thee : 
I am creating, by my wondrous skill, 
A race of Gods to do my sovereign will ! 

" For such an end what must the process be ? 
Wilt thou declare ? or hearken unto Me ? 
Is it, to thus transform an earthy clod. 
An easy task, — to make of it, — a God ? 

" Thy God will finish what He has begun ; 
He will perfect His image in each one. 
Although creation groans in pain till now, — 
This work is going on, man knows not how. 

" In every tear and sorrow, pain and loss, 
God worketh out the lessons of the cross : 
Where man sees wrong God will bring forth the right ; 
And thus through clouds and darkness lead to light. 



62 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

" By tasting bitter, man the sweet will choose ; 
To claim the good he must the ill refuse ; 
And so by contrast, the unfailing test, 
God will make known the highest and the best." 

Man may misjudge and scan God's ways in vain; 
But Love and Light will yet make all things plain ; 
And every tongue this glad acclaim shall swell, — 
"Glory to God ! He hath done all things well ! " 



Fear and Fcan 



I do not fear Thee, Father- God ; 

And yet, I fear Thee more and more ; 
I do not fear Thy smiting rod, — 

But wounding Thee, I would deplore ! 

Since through Thy well-beloved Son 
Thou hast revealed to me Thy heart, — 

What can I fear. Thou blessed One, 
For Thou my loving Father art ! 

To be obedient to Thee, 

Always to please Thee, day by day. 
Such filial fear doth constantly 

Possess my will and mark my way. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 63 

So sensitive my heart has grown 

To every slight approach of sin, 
The evil-thought-birds far have flown, 

Until I cease to hear their din. 

Thus while from all distressing fear 
My soul, immersed in love, is free, 

I praise God for this Holy fear 
Consuming and transforming me. 



The Father. 



Do you know the Father, 
Christian brother mine ? 

Do you know the meaning 
Of that name divine ? 

Many know of Jesus, 

Of the Mighty God, 
Of a blest Redeemer, 

And a risen Lord. 

These are names most precious 
To each Christian heart ; 

But to know the Father 
Is the better part. 



64 SONGS OF THE SPIBIT. 

Have you had a father 
Who was always kind, 

Patient with your failings, 
Wise of heart and mind ? 

Skilful in his dealings, 
Ever shielding you ? 

Gentle as a mother ; 

Brave and strong and true ? 

Yet the Heavenly Father 
Is all this and more : 

For his love and power 
Are a boundless store. 

When you know the Father, 
You will have no fear : 

You can trust His silence, 
Conscious He is near. 

You may rest contented, — 
Let His wisdom choose : 

All you have is His, 
So you cannot lose. 

All He has is yours ; 

This He doth declare ! 
What then can disturb you ? 

Father has the care. 



SONGS OF THE SPIKIT. 65 

Do you know the Father 

And your sonship claim i 
Then, my Chi-istian brother, 

You have leai-ned God's Name. 



''He Fell Asleep.'' 

(Acts 7 : 60.) 

Every Bible student knows that the common term for 
physical death, both in the Old and the New Testament, 
is sleep. This term is used both of the righteous and 
the wicked (Dan. 12: 2); the only difference between 
the two classes is that the righteous are said to " sleep 
in Jesus." This expression has been greatly blessed to 
me. We are always glad to have our tired suffering 
ones sleep. We need not fear the last sleep ; it is not 
death (Matt. 9 : 24). The only death there is, and the 
only one we need fear is alienation from God (Eph. 4 : 
18 ; of John 17 ; 3). Physical death is called sleep be- 
cause it is only a temporary condition, from which God 
can awaken his beloved children as easily as we can 
awaken our children from natural sleep ; and the 
moment of awakening is, to them, the moment of falling 
asleep. Meantime they live unto God, just as " all live 
nnto him " (Lu. 20 : 38), hence they live unto us who live 
in God. He is our Home , and theirs ; the only differ- 
ence being that, in that home, they sleep, while we still 



66 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

keep wakeful vigil. But " whether we wake or sleep we 
live together with him " (1 Thess. 5 : 10). To the sleep- 
ing, as well as to the living, it is true that, their life is 
hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I therefore still 
think of Ad die as with me — in God; she sleeping, I 
awake, just as -I would prefer to have it. At night she 
still sleeps by my side ; during the day she sleeps in an 
adjoining room, but under the same roof, in the same 
" dwelling place." (Psa. 90 : 1.) I wait for the morning, 
her's and mine. As brother Frank wrote, " We shall 
see her again ; perhaps even to-morrow, or next week ; 
and what a gloriously beautiful form will greet our 
gladdened eyes the^i." 

<* Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 



Sleeping;* 

She is not dead, our loved one's sweetly sleeping ; 

Now come apart awhile and let her rest: 
'Tis not for us sad vigils to be keeping, — 

To move about with countenance depressed. 

Are we not cheered to know her pain is over ? 

Our weary one shall never wake to weep : 
With grateful hearts her precious form we cover,- 

How kind the Father is to let her sleep ! 



SONGS OF THE SPIEIT. 



67 



Sweet memories like happy birds are singing 

Within the heart as to our tasks we go ; 
New truths, bright hopes, these blessed thoughts are 
bringing ; 

And more and more the Father's love we know. 

We live in God whether awake or sleeping ; 

There is no death to blight the trusting soul : 
We all are in our Father's own safe keeping, — 

And all is well because He doth control. 

Come then, dear hearts, we'll toil until the even,— 
That coming eventide when all is light ! 

Back to our arms these loved forms will be given. 
When Faith's brief journey ends in glorious sight. 



The Problem of Evil 



This is the theological puzzle of all the ages. It is 
fully solved, however, when we understand that Evil is 
relative \ only the Good is absolute; there can be but 
one absolute, but there may be many relatives ; and the 
relative is as real as the absolute, i. e. the relation is 
real. We need not say, as Christian science declares for 
example, that there is no evil, and thus simply stultify 
ourselves. We may freely admit the reality of evil, i. e. 
that evil relations do really exist, while at the same 



68 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

time holding, with the Bible, that all evil eventuates in 
good. I will illustrate what I mean by the relative and 
the absolute. 

Suppose a man is on a train moving forty miles an 
hour northward; suppose he walks from the forward 
end of that train through the cars toward the rear ; in 
what direction is he moving ? he is walking toward the 
south and at the same time the train is carrying him 
north ; which way is he really going ? He cannot be 
going both ways at the same time, although to some it 
might seem as though he was. The correct answer is 
that relatively (with relation to the train) the man is 
moving south; but absolutely speaking he is going 
north, for the train is carrying him much more rapidly 
in this latter direction, than he is walking in the former. 
This illustrates the difference between the relative and 
the absolute. Now in regard to the relativity of evil, 
take a Bible example. Was it an evil thing or a good 
thing that Joseph was sold into Egypt? We would 
have to answer this question by saying that relatively 
to his wicked brethren and the immediate results of sin 
"and guilt and anguish and suffering to all concerned, it 
was an evil ; but in the final outcome it was good, good 
to all connected with it, — to Joseph, to his father (who 
had formerly deceived his father), to the wicked 
brethren, to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and to all the 
people round about. The thing was relatively evil, but 
absolutely good. See Gen. 45 : 4-8 and 50 : 19, 20. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



Take one more very striking and most positive Bible 
example. Suppose yon were asked, was the crucifixion 
of Christ right or wrong ? What would you say ? Would 
you not have to say that it was wrong from one point of 
view, and right from another? smd thus both right and 
wrong according as the act was viewed. From the 
standpoint of his murderers it was the crime of the ages 
the most atrocious deed that man ever perpetrated. 
But from God's point of view it was right, especially 
foreordained and predetermined. (Acts 4 : 27, 28.) 

Here then is the solution of the problem of evil and 
its true status in the economy of God. Evil is not 
eternal ; if it were its presence in the universe of a God 
of infinite benevolence and almighty power would be 
utterly inexplicable ; but it is a means to an end, the dark 
background needed to bring out the resplendent attri- 
butes of God so as to reveal Him to man, and man to 
himself, and so to make it possible for man to become 
like God, by the inculcation and exercise of the same 
attributes, which God, through man's necessity, has re- 
vealed—and especially to be perfected in love, the very 
substance of God, but which man never could have 
" perceived " without the dark background of evil. (1 
Jn. 3 : 16 ; Eom. 5 : 8.) 

Thus evil is " of God " as well as the good (Isa. 45 : 
7). Hence Jesus says, " Resist not evil " (Matt. 5 : 39), 
and he showed us in his life what he meant ; for he 



70 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

quietly submitted to whatever insult or indignity was 
heaped upon him. He says by the prophet (Isa. 50), 
*' The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I re- 
belled not, and backward I moved not. I gave my back 
to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked out 
the hair ; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 
And the Lord Jehovah giveth help to me ; therefore have 
I not been conf oimded ; therefore have I set my face like 
a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed.'^ Do 
you catch the spirit of this scripture ? If Jesus had 
resisted the indignities that were heaped upon him he 
would have rebelled against God (compare Eom. 13 : 1, 
2). He submitted, — not to Herod, to Pontius Pilate or 
to the people of the Jews ; these were only God's 
agents, — but he submitted to Gody the Father (John 
18 : 11) — he saw no other hand but his, he recognized 
no other power. (John 19 : 11.) So the one that 
knows God may accept all things, evil as well as good, 
from God, and for his own blessing (Job 2 : 10) ; and 
thus not only acquiesce, but " rejoice in the Lord always 
and in every thing give thanks." This is Jesus' way 
of meeting evil. He that is able to receive it let him 
receive it. 

The purpose of all this is perfection, " made perfect 
through suffering.'' (Heb. 2 : 10.) Thus was Jesus per- 
fected ; for " though he was a Son yet learned he 
obedience by the things that he suffered, and being 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 71 

made perfect, lie became the author of eternal salvation 
•unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5 : 7-9.) 

Man could never know the absolute good, without 
first knowing the relative evil ; or to use the Bible sym- 
bols, man must first eat of the tree of the knowledge of 
good and evil, before he could partake of the tree of 
life, which is the knowledge of good absolutely ; for 
** this is life eternal to know THEE the only true 
God and Jesus Christ whom thou hascsent. (John 17 : 
3.) Thus evil is necessary to reveal God by opposites 
and to develop a race of gods (Psa. 82 : 6) by suffering ; 
and Jesus Christ is the demonstration and full illustra- 
tion of this process according to the Plan of the Ages, 
past, present and to come. This is the true science of 
Chi'istology, the science of the Bible, the science of God. 
" I am the first and I am the last, saith Jehovah." 



In the following poem sister has put some of the 
foregoing thoughts into verse. 

Transformation* 

Pondering deeply the problem of evil. 
Musing life's strange inequalities o'er, 

Weighing the cause and effect of our sorrows, 
Seeking to find out unsearchable lore, — 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Suddenly light came, dispelling the darkness, 
As from a rift in the gray clouds above 

Peace, like a dove, rested here on my bosom, 
Bringing the olive-leaf message of love. 

God hath for sorrow a sure compensation ; 

Wrong ope's the door for the entrance of right ; 
Conflict leads forth to the wearing of laurels ; 

Dull shadows herald approaching new light. 

Nothing is wasted in all His creation, — 
What we term loss insures infinite gain. 

Sweet the effects of the cup we call bitter, — 
Comfort the aftermath following pain. 

Jewels of joy come from mines of affliction ; 

Birth pangs precede every gladness new born ; 
Violent storms cause a fairer horizon ; 

Dreary nights end with the beauties of morn ! 

Thus may each curse be transformed to a blessing, 
Although this truth is still misunderstood ; 
Mercy '' we read, " shall rejoice over judgment :" 
Life is through death, — our ills working out good. 

Here is the secret o'er which we have pondered. 
This the key-royal to mysteries grim : 

God has revealed His great love through the evil ; 
All things created shall glorify Him ! 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 73 

Wise in conception is our Great Creator, 

In His performance Almighty is He ; 
What Love began Love will surely accomplish : 

God's ultimatum perfection must be. 



''What is Man ?'^ 



This question 'is so important that it is five times 
asked in the Bible. Job 7: 17 and 15 : 14 ; Psa. 8 : 4 
and 144 : 3 ; and finally in Heb. 2 : 6, where the question 
is answered ; and what is that answer ? wonder of 
wonders the answer is, — Jesus ! " We see not yet all 
things put under man, but we see Jesus." That is to 
say, Jesus is the great Prototjrpe of the race ; for, mark 
you, the apostle here is not speaking of any particular 
class of mankind, but of man, generically as a whole. 
This is very wonderful and very blessed. Just as Adam 
stands at the head of the race for condemnation and 
death, so Jesus stands at the head of the race for justi- 
fication and eternal life (Rom. 5 : 18); for " the head of 
every man is Christ " (1 Cor. 11 : 3) and ultimately all 
things in heaven and earth will be gathered " under one 
head" in Him. (Eph. 1 : 9-11, Both.) 

See Poem, '^ A Man,'" on page 38, 



74 SONGS OF THK SPIRIT. 



•^ My Soul — ^Wait Thoti only upon GoJ.*^ — 

Why do I wait here calmly, when so near, 
Up, up, the sands of time the breakers roll? 

"When the seas roar, and men's hearts fail for fear. 
You ask me how I have such rest of soul? 

Dear heart, I know the Father — that is all : 
No harm from Him will ever come to me. 
The waves may rise but back again must fall : 
For He controls the bounds of every sea. 

He told me that my strength was to sit still ; 

And whispered, I should wait upon Him here. 
So I am well content to do His will, 

And watch to see my coming Lord appear. 

But then you ask, " Have you no work to do," 
When struggling souls are out upon the main ? 

The laborers today are very few ; 

How can you thus in quietness remain ? 

Dear heart, it is the Father bids me wait ; 

I cannot rise except at His command ; 
His time is best, He will not speak too late ; 

The sea is in the hollow of His hand. 



SONGS OF THE 9PIBIT. "75 



My heart is throbbing for the world's great need ; 

I long to bring the perishing to shore ; 
And this shall be my work in very deed 

When God's full time has come ; but not before. 
Then shall I fear to trust Him with the souls 
He has redeemed by Love's blest sacrifice? 
Will He leave one barque stranded on the shoals 
When He has bought them at so great a price ? 
All things are moving now at God's behest. 

We cannot see, but we can trust His grace; 
The counsels of His will are wise and best, 

God's purposes are never out of place. 
The souls that wait, may better serve today 

According to God's wisdom and His plan, 
Than those who go before He leads the way. 

By heeding the untimely words of man. 
Dear heart, wait thou alone on God, until 

He gives thee all and more than thy request: 
The Father worketh hitherto His will, 
In quietness and confidence take rest. 

The Pain of Love* 

The more we come to know the Lord, 
And sound the depths of Love divine 

We see revealed in His pure word 
How love and suffering combine. 



76 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

The pain of love is ever keen, 

And hearts that love must suffer most j 

In this God's wondrous grace is seen 
Bringing salvation at such cost. 

What would we suffer for our own, — 
What do we bear for love's sweet sake? 

How oft' we still the rising moan 
Lest from another's peace we take ! 

Thus is our God long suffering, 
And silent in His love so great ; 

Yet to the haven He will bring 
The wanderers for whom we wait ! 

Awhile He sorrows till mankind 

Grow weary of the husks and swine ; 

But every lost one God will find. 

All that are His and yours and mine. 

And since God has revealed this grace 
The pain of love will not depart, 

"Until each son of Adam's race 
Is folded to the Father's heart 



Separation* 

First from the ivorld, with all its empty show, 
The shepherd calls His flock to come apart : 

Then from the good He leads them on to go 
To better still, — more knowledge to impart. 



SONGS OF THE SPIKIT. 77 

Still on, we come God's besthj faith to see, 
And leave the better part to seek the best ; 

Thus may we grow in grace continually, 
From glory mount to glory's highest crest. 

We enter by the court God's holy place, 

Then, through the veil, pass on until we come 

To the Host Holy, and there face to face 

Commune with God, who is the heart's true home. 

Thus by successive separations we 

Are led into all truth, and come to know 

Our God in all His grand supremacy : 

From faith's full cup — to vision's overflow. 



Walking; on the Water. 

Do you know, my fellow-Christian, 

If you have a single eye 
You can walk upon the water. 

When the waves are dashing high ? 

But you must not look about you, 
Nor cast one glance behind ; 

For you'll sink beneath the billows 
If you heed the boistrous wind. 



78 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

No , you cannot watch conditions 
And rise o'er them, it is plain, 

But by looking unto Jesus 
You can walk upon the main. 

Winds and waves will not o'erwhelm you, 
Though deep calleth unto deep : 

There is no such thing as failure 
When your eyes on Him you keep. 

Father holds life's mighty currents 

In the hollow of his hand ; 
How can any harm come to us. 

Whether on the sea or land ? 



**As an Eagflc." 

(Deut. 32 : 11.) 



Have you heard, dear, how the eagle 
Teaches her young brood to fly 

From the nest in the rough eyrie 

Where the crags are steep and high ? 

First, she tears the nest to pieces, 
Scattering the eaglets weak, 

Then, from those high clifts, she pushes 
Off each one with her strong beak. 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 79 

" what cruelty," you murmur, 

" Thus to deal with helpless things !" 

Watch her, as she swoops beneath them. 
Catching each on her broad wings. 

How the young birds shriek and flutter 

In their dizzy downward flight ; 
But she bears them safely upward 

To the solid, rocky height. 

Thus the lesson is repeated 

Till at length they all can fly ; 
And instead of fluttering downward, — 

Lo, they seek the azure sky ! 

So, we find our nests are broken 

By a power we cannot thwart : 
For the lesson of the eaglets 

We are needing to be taught. 

This is not our rest, beloved, 

God will have us mount on high ; 

How we shrink and fear and murmur 
While he teaches us to fly. 

But God's love is strong and patient, 

Ever mindful of his own ; 
Some day we shall soar as eagles 

To the heights as yet unknown. 



80 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



ThcLightof God 
versus 
''The Light of Asia-'' 

YouVe read the story of the Buddhist Prince, 
The wise " Gautama," " Siddartha '' the fair ? 

Who, from his " house of love " where all was bliss, 
Came forth a willing sacrifice, to share 

The sorrows of mankind that he might be 
Their guide to hope, to peace and liberty ! 

" The great renunciation " it is called, 

This tale of beauty from dark India's lore ; 

Yet, placing it beside the light of God, 
How many passages we must deplore : 

The splendors of the " Vishramvau " depart. 
Before Truth's home of love, exceeding art. 

Still we are lured by this most touching tale. 
Its gems of pathos — its exquisite lines ; 

The many precepts, laws and virtues rare, 

Through which the light of God divinely shines. 

In dear ^' Prince Siddartha " we joy to trace 
Our Prince of Peace — Our Messenger of Grace ! 

Across the pages of this beauteous poem 

Truth's rainbow tints flash out like jewels placed 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 81 

In settings quite beneath their royal price ; 

But truth is truth wherever it be traced : 
And we can feel that inward thrill of joy, 

Although we find these gems amid alloy. 

As Siddartha laid off his glorious robe 
To take the coarse apparel of the poor, 

Our thoughts fly home to Him, who, although rich, 
Yet, for our sake, to make our peace secure, 

Laid off his glory to become a slave, 

To serve mankind, — to seek the lost and save. 

The Buddhist's trials in the wilderness, — 
And how he triumphed o'er the artful foe, 

Remind us of the forty days and nights 

Our Lord was tempted, so that He might know 

Our need, and succor every tempted one ; 
Making them share the victory He won. 

In Yosodhara we behold the Bride, 

Who for her Lord's return doth daily wait ; 

Goes forth to meet Him in her fairest robes, 
Then with Him enters through the Palace gate, 

In His blest presence finds her joy replete ; 
Drinks the neiv ivine while sitting at His feet. 

No longer now, as in the Song of Songs, 

She seeks her Lord, and seeking finds Him not : 

" The unpressed pillow and the empty robe '^ 
Are sorrows that at last she has forgot j 



82 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

The dreams of night, the shadows pass away — 
The hour has come, — the dawn of Perfect Day ! 

Such precious thoughts as these delight our hearts, 
As the sweet tale we ponder line on line, — 

So beautiful, and yet so lacking too 
The fullness of that Wisdom all divine ; 

Nirvana is as nothingness — a pall, 

Compared with this grand truth — God All in All ! 



The Christian Nirvana* 

The highest heaven of Buddhism (modernized into 
Theosophy, so-called) is loss of personality, extinction 
of being, nothingness. Gautama declared that " man's 
only salvation is, not to be." This was Nirvana, absorp- 
tion into the Deity, nonentity. Christ also declared 
that He, and we, were ultimately to " go to the Father " 
(John 14 : 12) — in a sense, be absorbed in God, that He 
may be all in all. But how ? For what purpose ? To 
lose our personal identity and become nothing ? No, 
but to fi7id our true selves and become Gods (Psa. 82 : 
6). Jesus declared that the thing we lost we should 
save, that very thing, the soul. Christianity is full of 
paradoxes, and this is one of them ; the only way to 
save the soul is to lose it ; if you know what the soul 
is you will understand this paradox. Paul says, " with 
the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the 
flesh the law of sin." Who is this, " I myself ? " It 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



8S 



is not ^' the old man " ; that is the " not I " ; but it is, 
"the new man," '^the hidden man of the heart" 1 
Pet. 3 : 4), which we have found,—" in God." In other 
words, we have come to know our lineage and destiny — 
»< I have said ye are gods, and all of you the childrenof 
the Most High,"— and so we simply wait for the chrys- 
alis to burst, that we may be ushered into our divine 
estate ; and this, again, is God ; He is our inheritance. 
" For everything belongs to you — Paul, Apollos, Peter, 
the world, life, death, the present, the future, everything 
belongs to you. But you belong to Christ ; and Christ 
belongs to God." (1 Cor. 3 : 22, 23, 20th Cent. N. T. 
Perfection is not extinction of being — 7iothing, but the 
possession of all things, even " all the fulness of God." 
In Him " the perfect man " finds his essential element, 
his true habitat, his spirit's home, his All. 



The Watch Towen'" 

BY ANNA SHIPTON. 



I will stand alone on my watch-tower, 

And hear what my Lord will say : 
I have stood there many a midnight, 

And the noon of a sultry day. 
I have cast my bread on the waters, 

I shall surely find it again. 
Though now, to my faint hearths vision. 

It seems to be all in vain. 



84 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

The Lord has His time appointed, 

I know not when it may be ; 
But the blessing my soul is seeking 

Will be given at last to me : 
It may come in the silent watches 

When the world lieth weary and still ; 
It may come when my hope sinks lowest, 

The depths of my spirit to thrill. 

I know it will come — I am gazing 

Into the distance afar, 
As the wise men watched for the rising, 

Through the eastern night, of their star 
And a star shall arise in my darkness 

That Herod can never destroy, — 
I shall know the light I have longed for. 

And rejoice with exceeding joy. 

It may come in another fashion 

Than ever I pictured its ray, — 
It may rise o'er the dull, cold, mountain 

Like the dawn of a summer's day ; 
It may come in the lightning's flashing 

Or loud as a thunder blast : 
But the Lord who is strong in battle, 

Will answer my prayer at last. 

Thou hast spoken and Thou wilt do it, — 
I will tarry in hope and see : 



SONGS OF THE SPIEIT. 

For none ever walked in darkness 
And waited in vain for Thee. 

I know that my prayer will be granted, 
The Lord never comes too late ; 

And the soul that trusts Him fully 
Shall never be desolate. 

It may come when my dust lies sleeping 

Awaiting my Saviour's call ; 
But my last prayer, safe in His keeping. 

Shall shine there fairest of all. 
It may come when the enemy scoffeth, — 

But I will believe Thee, Lord, 
For they who dwell in Thy presence. 

May take their rest on thy word. 

My star, — nay, Thy star, my Master ! 

To shine in thy crown so fair, — 
This is my hope in my sadness. 

This is the strength of my prayer. 
Thou workest in signs and wonders, — 

Thy promise shall cheer me again : 
Long have I waited for Thee Lord, 

None ever waited in vain. 

I will stand alone on my watch-tower 

If so I may do Thy will, — 
Keep me to watch for my star-rise, 

If it please Thee, keep me there still ! 



86 SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 

Thou wilt answer my prayer for Thy glory, 
Master beloved, Thou wilt bless ! 

And quicken my heart in Thy praises 
To tell of Thy faithfulness. 



A Marfiagfe Hymn. 

BY AUTIIOK OF " SCHOMBURG COTTA FAMILY.'' 

Erom henceforth " No more twain but one," 
Yet ever one, through being twain, 

As self is ever lost and won 

Through love's own ceaseless loss and gain ; 

And both their full perfections reach, 
Each growing the full self through each. 

Two in all worship, glad and high, 

All promises to praise and prayer, 
' Where two are gathered there am I." 
Gone half the weight from all ye bear, 

Gained twice the force for all ye do, — 
The ceaseless, sacred, Church of ttvo. 

One in all lowly ministry, 

One in all priestly sacrifice, 
Through love which makes all service free. 

And finds or makes all gifts of price. 
All love which made life rich before, 

Through the great central love grown more. 

And so together journeying on 
To the great bridal of the Christ, 

When all the life His love has won 
To perfect love is sacrificed ; 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 87 



And the new song beyond the Sun 

Peals,—" Henceforth no more twain but One I 

And in that perfect Marriage Day 

All earth's lost love shall live once more ; 

All lack and loss shall pass away ; 
And all find all not found before,— 

* Till all the worlds shall live and glow 
In that great love's great overfloiu. 



I " 



Unity of the Spirit. 

I am not with you in the flesh to-night 

My friend beloved,— the distance lies between, 

And days may come and days may take their flight ; 
And every hour present a changing scene, 
Still I am always near thee ! 

Not face to face ; but in a higher sense 
I dwell with you, beloved, all the days : 

We both are folded in God's Providence,— 
Our steps are ordered in His chosen ways : 
Therefore I feel thee near me ! 

My heart is thine, — I know thy heart is mine ; 

Because we walk in God our lives are one. 
Thus blended are we in the Life-divine, 

We live and move and breathe in God alone : 
Such blessed Unity ! 

This is the portion of His saints e'en now,— 

A unity obliterating space ; 
Ko separation can our spirits know : 

His cords of love our thoughts will interlace 
Through all Eternity ! 



SONGS OF THE SPIRIT. 



^'It Is All Over/' 

Some day tliese words will bring no thrill of pain, 
But rather wake a sweet triumphant strain, 
When we, and ours, upon the crystal sea, 
Sing the New Song, — each soul's Gethsemane 
Will then be over. 



m it »yo3 



i-^ 



Sbngs pf ^ tl^e 



I 1 I 

30 cents Po|stpata» ' 

Bible Ha 



ipiUt 



' ^iit Copies $iM 



£m^ 



30|ccnt^ Poitpafd 

TriieB 



Fotif\CopL $tOO 



5asis f^ Kedemiition 

i ,' 1 ! I . i ( 



12 cents Post|xaid«, 



Fiv4 G>pies 50 ccnfs 



The; Spirit of tie ^oiil 



Issued Monthly. 



4 for Sample Gbpi^s to 



DfROWEHT i PUBUSlilNG GO. 
Eievcrly, - - \ Massachusetts.] 



i^itBiyvtt) 



f 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 775 237 6 • 



